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Canon RF 50mm f/1.8 STM

Canon's entry-level nifty fifty for the RF system — the RF 50mm f/1.8 STM is one of the most affordable lenses in the entire RF lineup and an ideal first prime for any Canon R-series body. At 160g it is lighter than almost everything else in the bag, and the f/1.8 aperture produces noticeably smoother backgrounds than kit zooms. STM autofocus is quiet and reliable for stills and video, making this a popular choice for vloggers and hybrid shooters working with the EOS R50, R8, or RP. An outstanding value prime for portrait, travel, and everyday work on a budget.

GearFrame's Take

The smartest first prime for any Canon RF shooter — 160g, f/1.8, and a price that makes it a no-brainer upgrade from a kit zoom.

Starting from
£219 new
Used from £153 (Wex Photo Video)
Average price across retailers: ~£239
Available at 4 retailers
✓ Available at 4 retailers 🔒 No signup needed 📦 UK stock only
RetailerPrice
Clifton Cameras
Clifton Cameras
£219
Check on Clifton Cameras →
Wex Photo Video
Wex Photo Video used
£153
Check on Wex Photo Video →
eBay
eBay
Lowest Buy It Now · marketplace
£179
Search eBay →
Prices are synced live from UK retailers. Not every product will be stocked by every retailer; older models may only be available second hand.
Core
Released
2020
Aperture
f/1.8 (max aperture)
Compatible Mount
Canon RF
Dimensions
69.2mm diameter × 40.5mm length
Weight
160g
Weather Sealed
No
Optics & Focus
AF Motor
STM (Stepping Motor) — quiet and smooth for both stills and video
Optical IS
None (relies on body IBIS)
Min. Focus Distance
30cm minimum focus distance

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3 cameras compatible with the Canon RF mount.

GearScore™ — Suitability by Genre
Portrait
9.0
Travel
9.0
Vlogging & Video
7.0
Sports & Action
4.0
Great For
👤
Portrait f/1.8 at 50mm gives flattering compression and smooth backgrounds — a natural portrait choice at any price point.
✈️
Travel At 160g it adds almost nothing to the bag weight — a natural travel prime for everyday scenes and people.
🎬
Vlogging & Video Quiet STM and a compact form factor make it popular for video and hybrid shooting on Canon R-series bodies.
⚠️ Not Ideal For
🏅
Sports & Action STM autofocus is not fast enough for reliable tracking of moving subjects — a USM lens is a better choice.
📝 How suitability scores are calculated Scores reflect the aggregated consensus from verified purchaser reviews across tracked UK retailers, weighted by photography genre tags applied by reviewers. This is community opinion — not GearFrame editorial assessment. See our full methodology →
Price History — RF 50mm f/1.8 STM

Video reviews and hands-on coverage for the Canon RF 50mm f/1.8 STM from across YouTube.

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